Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-04-06

tAihA WO m6y tcbik d llbblS nOWJ Oh
said at length "but don't move your hea
when you speak. q
''Where do you live?'
"Streets, most times" he said. ''Sum
mer months we sleep out O. doors, Smu
and me. But winter time we get penn
lodgin' when we're in luck"
'And when you are not in luck?"
"Then, we sleep on Blackfriars bridge o
the 'bankment. The bridge is warmest.-
There you can get corner out of the wind
ifyou go early, before the best seats ar
took. On the 'bankment tits fit TO freeze
yer marrer."
"Do you ever go to church," questioned
the girl, after pause, fearing that he
would grow restless if he did not talk.
Constant" said the boy unblushingly
land we 60 to Sunday school reg liar, Smu
and me?
s'Smut, too?" she asked absently.
'Leastways, Smut waits for me outside, ,
he said hastily. t'Oh, we're right dowr
pious chaps, we are."
"There, I have done for this morning.
she said presently, rising from her STOOL
"Here is your money. 1 would give yor
more if l could afford it; but 1 am poor
like you. Can you come at the same timt
tomorrow
"Right you are" he said, pocketing the
pence slowly.
Then shall expect you at II. Good
by-good-by, Smut"
II.
AS Tim walked slowly down Suffolk
street one morning mighty resolve formed
itself in his mind He ran up stairs hur
riedly, fearing that his courage might for.
sake him if he gave himself time fol
thought. and his first feeling on finding the
room unoccupied was one of disappoint.
ment. Smut curled himself up in his usu
al, corner near the window, and Tim sta
toned himself before the easel, looking
bitterly at the ragged figure which met his
gaze.
? "You a good boyP' he said, regarding
the painting contemptuously. 'You look
like it, don't you? Your little game's bout
done, ole man; you'll see the last of her.
He took his place quietly when she came
in, his heart beating heavily under his rag
ged jacket as he gazed out silently upon the
patch of gray sky. The unusual silence
struck the girl, and she regarded him with
something akin to interest as he stood there
with the light falling upon his rigid little
face.
I "What makes you so quiet to-day, TIM
Has Smut been bad dog?"
''No, it amt Smut returned the boy
drearily. 'It's me that's been bad"
"Why, what have you donee" she asked,
her eyes growing warm with amusement
'"Twas the very first day come here,'
he said, in the same dreary tones, never re.
moving his gaze from the window. 81
told you a crammer; said as how went
to church and to Sunday school,"
''And it was not true?" she questioned
lightly.
warm myself" he answered, doggedly.
'Never been to Sunday school in all my
born days."
"What made you tell such story?" she
inquired, the ludicrous side of the seems
alone striking her.
"Wanted you to think / was a good
chap" he returned in low shamed voice.
"Y ou said you'd give me thripence day
if was good boy"
''And why do you tell me about it now?''
she asked curiously. "Is it because you
know that l cannot finish the picture with.
out you?"
mo, it ain'tr' he answered roughly,
looking round from the window for the first
time.
"Why, then?''
"Don't know 'xackly, but it amt that
he said more quietly.
''Don't you know that it is very naughty
to tell stories?' she questioned, with an un-
sense that some rebuke was re-
quired of her.
50 pose so, he answered humbly.
"Well, We'll say no more about it,' she
said vaguely. "But don't you do it again. y
When Tim entered the studio next day
he found Miss Munro sitting before her
easel, looking pale and languid.
81 shall not want you this morning. she
said YEARLY. 81 am not we'll enough to
paint to day."
s'You look awful white" said the boy
gently.
s.YOu can come tomorrow as usual" she
continued in the same subdued tone. 81
dare say 1 shall be fit for work tomorrow.
s'Hope you'll feel better soon," he said
as he awkwardly moved away.
He walked slowly down the street and
along the embankment, his dog trOtting
close at his heels. A thin, gray mist hung
over the river, yelling. the opposite shore
from view. AS he looked thoughtfully
across the stretch of water his eyes absent
ly followed boat as it silently became Wis
ible out of the mist and as silently melted
away into it once more. Smut jumped up
upon the wall presently, and sat there look.
ing down gravely into the gloomy water.
Tim patted the dog with an absent air, and
when he spoke his voice was low and sad.
s'She said as how she was poor that first
night" he whispered brokenly, "and I've
never given it thought! She lays out
thripence,a day on that pictur' COS she's
agoin' to sell it. Just like me and my
matches, only her money takes longer com
ing in"
Smut was quick to read the sadness in
his masters tone, and he pressed his head
close against the ragged jacket with an in
articulate murmur of sympathy.
you're sorry, amt you, ole chap?" con
tinued the boy wisfully. 'You love her,
TOO, don't yon?"
Smut wagged his tail enthusiastically
1t was his private belief that his master
overrated Miss Munro's charms.
''She's hard up" said Tim, after a pause
She's awful hard up Smut. She ain t goi
no MOI ey to buy any breakfast-ihat's why
she looked so white. And we had breac
and hot eeffee!' he ended, with sob.
For some minutes he;was silent, his eyes
wide and miserable as they rested on tho
gray stretch of water, but his face cleared
presently. and smile parted the small lips
'I've got it !' he cried triumphantly
raising his arms from the wall "I'll tel
her tomorrow. Come, Smut
1t was with shy eagerness that Tim en-
tered the studio next day. His little face
was pale and pinched, for he had tasted NJ
food that morning; but his expression wal
one of entire happiness. In his hand he car
ried parcel done up in dingy piece o
newspaper, and this he proceeded to lay
timidly upon the girls lap.
She looked helplessly from the parcel tc
the boy and back at the parcel again, and
then the room rang with her merry laugh
''Thank you" she said, as soon as she
could speak ''I-I will look at them pres
emily. Will you put them in the fender
for the present 90
Tim experienced vague feeling of dis
appointment as he silently obeyed. He hat
hoped to have the pleasure of seeing her ca
those potatoes, for which he and Smut haC
gone breakfastless this bitter morning, and
her laughter had panied without enlighten
ing him. He was almost glad when a
length she told him that he might go, fo
he did not feel at ease in her presence to